Army monitors resurgence of NPA sparrow unit in Panay

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13): Army monitors resurgence of NPA sparrow unit in Panay

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID) is currently monitoring if there is a resurgence of the Sparrow Unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay island.

Brig. Gen. Dinoh Dolina of the 3ID said that although there is currently “no strong indication” of resurgence of sparrow unit here, they wanted to check if there is such a revival of the group in far-flung areas.

“They are doing it to those helpless civilians,” he said in a media interview on Monday.

Dolina said that the new battalion, 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), is undergoing organization training and is expected to start operating this June.

He assured that the new battalion will be based in Panay island.

“We will base them to where the enemy is, where they are concentrating their forces,” he said.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte has warned soldiers and policemen against the resurgence of NPA’s sparrow units in their localities.

The sparrow units are the hitmen of the NPA in urban areas with primary mission to kill lawmen and government officials.

The resurgence came after the NPA hierarchy has ordered to intensify its attacks on government forces in the country after President Duterte canceled the peace talks with the group.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1028347